Overturning mine cage



A. ALLEN OVERTURNING MINE CAGE 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21

Feb. 5

A. ALLEN OVERTURNING MINE CAGE Feb. 5 1924.

Filed Jan. 21. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet '8 Patented Feb. 5, i924.

ANDREWS ALLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

OVERTURNING IEINE CAGE.

Application filed January 21, 1921. Serial No. 438,844.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that L ANDREWS ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Overturning Mine Cage, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to self-dumping mine cages and especially to a mine cage which will overturn in its operation to an angle which will cause the material contained in a car of rectangular longitudinal cross section to be discharged without the use of a movable or hinged gate on the car.

Solid end cars which have a rectangular cross section have many advantages over cars with hinged or lifting ends. Among these advantages may be mentioned the greater strengthand ruggedness of the cars, less Weight and no tendency to spill material on the roadways of the mine. The use of solid end cars in the shaft mines, requires the use of some hoisting and dumping apparatus which will overturn the cars to a proper dumping angle. The ordinary type of self-dumping cage will not tilt more than forty-five degrees and the primary object of my invention is to provide a cage which will meet. the conditions arising from the use of solid end cars in mines.

In order to overturn a solid end car for discharging the material contained therein, it is necessary to rotate or overturn the car through an angle of approximately 185 degrees, that is to say, 45 degrees beyond the horizontal. Many-attempts have been made to build a cage that will produce this over turning movement but none of the attempts have so far been successful because of the impact caused by the violence of the operation, and the spilling of coal due to the cage and car drawing back into the shaft after it has passed the horizontal position.

In my invention, the operation of the tilting portion of thecage is so controlled that the cage operates smoothly and with a uniform, rapid and regular motion, so that the dumping operation can he carriel on a reasonable speed and with an entire absence of destructive vibration and impact.

' Another object of my invention is the provision of means in connection with the cage so that any coal or other material dropping off either the car or platform of the tilting cage, will be caught by a spill gate and carried'into the discharge opening or hopper. This provision takes care of the spill when the cage withdraws into the shaft during the last 45 degrees of its operation.

Another object of my invention is the construction of a mine cage which is entirely automatic in its operation and requires no manual attention, either at the top of the shaft or for engaging and disengag ing cars at the bottom of the shaft. The ordinary type of self-dumping cage in which cars having end gates are used, requires a hook or some similar mechanism by means of which the gate on the car can be opened when the cage goes into its dumping position, as this operation is uncertain and sub ject to occasional failure so that it is necessary to keep a man at the dump so that the end gates 0n the cars can be unhooked when the automatic apparatus fails or the cage can be lowered and rehoisted on signal from the man at this point. In my invention, the dumping operation is entirely automatic in operation and there is no possibility of failure as the cars are turned over so that the contents of same will inevitably be dis charged without manual attention of any kind.

Another object. of my invention is to provide a cage which shall be simple in operation and which can be easily used for han dling men or materials of any kind as Well as the hoisting and dumping of the coal, andvwhich cannot by any chance be overturned in the shaft, or before the cage is hoisted to the mechanism used to overturn the cage; also one in which there is no complicated mechanism and which will be simple, easy to construct e'fiicient and which will give long life in operation.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accon'ipanying drawings and in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the mine cage and various parts of the frame of the tipple. the mine car being shown in normal position in full lines, in-

partially overturned position in dotted lines and in fully dumped position in dash and dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of my improved dump mechanism;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on lines 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail view of one of the pulleys upon which the mine cage rests in partially dumped position; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view on lines 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring now specifically to'the drawings, and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a mine cage 10 is shown comprising side portions 11 and 12 and a floor 13, the ends of the said cage being open to allow a solid-end mine car 14 to be run thereon upon rails 15 and 16, extending longitudinally of the said mine cage and secured to the floor 13 in any suitable manner. The side of the cage 11 has a vertical member 16, extending upward at one corner thereof and bent over at 17 with a member 18 secured thereto at its upper end which extends longitudinally of the said mine cage 10, and is secured to member 19, one of the corner members of the mine cage 10 and which extends upward and is curved at 20 at its upper end and which also forms a track upon which the mine cage is carried and partially supported during the dumping operation, as hereinafter described. A pair of diagonally extending members 21 and 22 are provided which are secured to the sides 11 and extend diagonally across the said side of the cage 10 to a point near the upper end of the member 19. A member 23 is provided which is secured to the upper ends of the members 19, 21 and 22 and which has a roller 24 secured thereto upon a shaft 25 fOr purposes hereinafter described. Extending transversely across the bottom of the mine cage 10 is a plurality of beams 26, 27 and 29, the member 16 being secured to the member 26, and the member 19 being secured to member 28, the said beams 26, 27, 28 and 29 forming the sills upon which the floor 13 of the mine cage 10 is held. Extending longitudinally of the mine cage 10 is a pair of members 30 and 31, the side 12 at its lower edge being secured to the member 30 and the side 11 being secured to the member 31, the members 26, 27, 28 and 29 being secured at their lower ends to the members 30 and 31, the whole structure building up a mine cage which is rectangular in shape and open at each of its ends so that a mine car 14 can be run thereon. Secured to the wall 12 is an angle 32 which is adapted to engage the top of the minecar 14, the wall 11 having a similar angle 33 secured thereto which is also adapted to engage the top of the mine car 14, when the cage is overturned. MOTH;

bers 34 and 35 are provided immediately adjacent to the rails 15 and 16, respectively, and secured to the floor 13 of the mine cage and have posts 36 and 37 secured thereto, to which angles 38 and 39 are secured respec' tively, which extend over the wheels 40 and 41 of the mine car. A pair of members 42 and 43, which are secured to the side walls 11 and 12, respectively, by means of angles 44 and 45, serve to reinforce the members 38 for the holding of the mine car and preventing the mine car from dropping out of the cage when it is overturned. Secured to the cage 10, is a bail 46, the said bail being composed of a pair of members 47 and 48 extending downwardly on each side of the mine cage 10 and having transversely extending members 49 and 50 at the upper end to which the hoisting ropes 51 are secured in any approved manner. Secured to each of the members 47 and 48 at their lower ends are members 52 and 53, which extend parallel with the bottom 13 of the mine cage 10 and have a shaft 54 extending therethrough, upon which the mine cage 10 turns. The ends of the members 47 and 48 at their bottoms are secured together by transversely extending members 56 which extend underneath the floor 13 of the mine cage.

On the opposite side of the cage 10 from the roller 24 and mounted upon the shaft 25 is a second roller 57, the framework of the side 12 of the cage 10 being the same as heretofore described with reference to the side 11 of the cage 10.

Secured to the framework of the mine tipple is a curved track 58 against which roller, 57 is adapted to be engaged as the mine cage is hoisted. A similar track (not shown) is provided, upon which the roller 24 runs on the opposite side of the cage 10. The track 58 extends upward and across on the framework of the tipple, its track describing a specially constructed curve, until the cage is forced into the position shown in the dotted lines of Figure 1, carrying with it the car 14. When the mine cage has reached this position, the curved track on the edge of the cage engages the roller 67 and, as the center of gravity of the cage and car moves forward, this roller 67 gradually takes the weight of the car and cage and the pressure of the roller 57 on guide 58 is relieved thereby, the roller 57 finally leaving the track 58 entirely, as shown in dotted and dash lines of Figure 1.

The cage completes its regular rotation with the weight of cage and car supported at the forward end entirely by the roller 67. If, however, the cage should be hoisted too high, in case of an overwind of mine cage 10, roller 57 will engage guide angle member 60, so that the cage will then rise vertically to the limits of this guide without any additional overturning.

1 ,4e2,5 se

The return of the cage in a vertical position follows the reverse process and is entirely automatic. The transmission of the load from the roller 67 to guide 58 being accomplished without shock, because of the location of the roller 67 which is at the point at which the cage tends to overturn and also because of the spring engagement of roller 67 which cushions any impact from rapid operation.

A wall 61 of the tipple is shown, to which a portion of the chute 62 having an inwardly extending portion 63, is provided, upon which the coal, or other contents of the mine car, is dumped through the discharge opening 64:. A second opening is provided by lifting the gate 65 so that rock or refuse can be taken to a secondary bin or chute.

The bearing upon which the wheel 67 is secured is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, and consists of a member 78 pivoted at its rear end by means of pin 79 to a shoe 77 and carrying at its outer end a wheel 67 so positioned as to engage the member 19 on the side of the cage 11, as it rotates in the tipple as described above. The forward end of the member 78 is held in lateral position by means of a. member 68 with bolts 69 and 70 and a cap piece 71. The member 78 is held at a predetermined distance above the seat in the member 68 by means of a bolt 76 having a hollow cap 74: therein with a spring 75 under the cap 7 1- which envelops the bolt 76 and can be brought to any desired compression by shortening the bolt 76. hen the cage comes in contact with wheel 67 the weight of the cage is gradually transferred onto same and member 78 goes down until it reaches a bearing on member 68, the spring 75 affording an adjustable and eflicient cushion during this operation. lVhen the cage goes back into the shaft this operation is reversed and the cage leave wheel 67 when the roller of cage 57 engages the guide 58. It will be understood that two wheels are provided as shown on Figures i and 5, one of which engages each side of the mine cage as it is turned over during the dumping operation.

Secured to the members 47 and 4:8 comprising the vertical members of the ball 46 of the mine car are members 80 and 81, the member 80 being supported by the transversely extending members 82 and 83 which are secured to members 46 and the member 81 having similar brace members 8% and 85, each of said members 80 and 81 being secured to the members 46 and i8, respectively. at the top and bottom. members 80 and 61 being bent to a curve suitable for engaging the roller of the bell crank 86 at the upper and lower ends of same. as described later.

Secured to the frame of the mine tipple, is a bell crank member 86 having a roller shaft 90'" extends.

87 at its upper end and which is adapted to be engaged by the member 80 as the mine cage 10 is hoisted. The bell crank 66 is shown in Figure l in its normal position in full lines and has secured thereto a rod 88 which traverses upon a roller guide 89 secured to the framework of the tipple. Secured to he framework of the tipple is a. shaft 90 resting in a box 92 through which a second A spill gate 93 is se curely attached to shaft 90 at its upper end and at its lower end by means of a hinge attached to the-spill gate extension 94. [it the lower end of spill gate extension 94 is u shaft 90 upon which is pivoted a side arm 93. the other end of which is pivoted on shaft 90 The lines drawn between centers of shaft 90, shaft 90, shaft 90 and hinge 9-1. forming a parallelogram. On the shaft 90 is also positioned one or more grooved wheels such as 91 and which is adapted to receive the chain 96 attached to the operating rod 88 and the other wheel is adapted to take a rope from counterweight 97 so as to return the gate to its normal position in the shaft. The relation between members 80. 87. 88. 91 and 97 is such that the gate 93 will follow out into the shaft immediately under the platform of the cage and will catch any spill from the car or platform retaining it in the angle formed by members 94 and 93 and when the spill gate has reached the position shown by dotted and dash lines, delivering the coal onto the chute 65.

In operation the device will be readily understood from reference to Figure 1 which shows the three positions of the mine cage. The mine cage 10 is shown in its normal hoisting position in full lines and as the cage is hoisted by means of the hoisting (ables 5. attached to the bail 46 the roller 57 engages in the track 58 and thus the mine cage starts to rotate upon the pins 54 and 55. its the cage is hoisted the roller 57 following the track comes into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. that is. partially dumped position. whereupon the cage rests upon the rollers 67 which partially support the weight of the cage. The cage is con tinued to be hoisted until in the position shown in the dotted and dash lines in Figure 1, which is far enough over to turn the contents of the mine car 14.- out of the cage and into the chute. The planograph arrangement shown attarhcd to the shaft 9 is raised up by means of the track 80 secured to the bail of the mine "age until it follows around under the edge of the mine car until the cage in fully dumped positioiu whereupon the member 94 forms complete floor and means for catching the particles of coal which are dropped over the edge of the mine car while it is being dumped and the entire contents of the car pass downllF -" the bail is lowered the mine cage returns to its normal hoisting position, the counterweight pulls the planograph mechanism back to the position shown in full lines and the cage is lowered into the mine shaft 3 where the empty car 14: is removed and a loaded car substituted in its place. It will be understood, of course, that in the operation oi mines two cages are usually oper ated, one on each end of the cable so that as one cage is going down the other cage is being hoisted. pair of arms 99 and 100 are secured to the top of the bail which pre vent the tipping over of the cage during the hoisting operation. Pivotally mounted in the bottom of the cage 13 is a member 101 which is secured to a block 102 and has a holding bolt 103 upon which a spring a is mounted, the said member 101 being normally held in the position shown in Figure 2. A second member 105 is shown. secured to a block 106 by means of a pin 107, the said member 105 at its rear end curving outward and downward so that its end 108 extends below the bottom of the mine car. It will be understood that in running a mine car upon the rails 15 and 16 of the mine cage the lug will readily pass over either of the members 101 or 105 until in the position shown in Figure 2, thereupon the ends of the mem bers 105 and 101 will engage the mine car to prevent its running off the mine cage. As the mine cage is lowered the end 108 of the member 105 engages in the block so that the end of the member 105 engaging the car lug is lowered out of engagement with said lug thereby allowing the car to be removed from the mine cage. During the dumping operation the tops of the wheels of the mine car are engaged by the members 38 and 39 and also by the members 32 and 33 to prevent the mine car from falling from the top of the mine cage, the mine car being thus securely held in position in the mine cage during the dumping operation.

While 1 have described more or less pre ci ely the details of construction, 1 do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto. as l contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may sug est or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a mine cage, an l.- shaped bail adapted to support said mine :aaeasse cage, a pivotal mounting for said bail and said cage at one side of the center of gravity of the said cage, a curved track and means at the upper portion of said cage for engagement on the under-side of the said track whereby the said cage is dumped during the hoisting operation.

In combination, a mine cage, an L- shaped bail adapted to support said cage and pivotally secured thereto at one side of the center of gravity of the said cage, a curved track, rollers on said cage adapted to engage said track and a fixed member adapted to support said cage when in partially dumped position.

3. In'combination, a mine cage, an L- shaped bail adapted to support said mine cage and pivoted to said mine cage at one side of its center of gravity, a curved track, rollers on the upper side of said mine cage adapted to engage the under-side of said track and a fixed supporting member adapted to support said mine cage in partially dumped position and upon which said mine cage moves to full dumped position.

1. In combination, a mine cage, a bail to which said mine cage is pivotally mounted, a curved track, means on said mine cage for engaging the under-side of said curved track, a spill gate secured to the mine tipple and means associated with said mine tipple whereby the spill gate is operated during the dumping operation of the mine cage.

5. In combination, a mine cage having a bail pivotally mounted thereon, a curved track secured to the mine tipple, means upon the mine cage for engagement with the said track, a spill gate, a track secured to said bail and operative connections for said spill gate adapted to engage the track on the said bail during the dumping operation whereby the spill gate is positioned under one side of the mine cage during the dumping operation.

6. In combination, a mine cage, a bail upon which said mine cage is pivotally mounted thereon, a curved track secured to the mine tipple, means'upon the mine cage for engagement with the said track, a spill gate having a hinged extension and means for moving the hinged extension at all times parallel to its first position as the spill gate is rotated forward during the dumping operation.

7. In combination, a mine cage, a bail upon which said mine cage is pivotally mounted, a curved track, means upon the said mine cage for engagement with the said track whereby the cage is overturned, a spill gate mounted adjacent the dumping chute, a track secured to said bail, a bell crank mounted upon the Framework for engagement with the track secured to said bail. and operative connections between said bell crank and spill gate, whereby thespill gate is positioned under the mine cage during the dumping operation and is pulled out of position during the return of said mine cage.

8. In combination, a mine cage, a bail upon which said mine cage is pivotally mounted, a curved track secured to the framework of the mine tipple, a roller secured to the framework of the mine tipple and around which said mine cage travels during a portion of the dumping operation, the said roller being held in position above its normal location by means of a spring which may be adjusted to secure whatever initial compression is desired.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 18th day of January, 1921.

ANDREWS ALLEN. 

